CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS:
Biomechanics of Ice Hockey Skating
By Christopher MacLean, Ph.D.
In order to fully understand the rational for the skate interventions described in the Case Study,
a brief description of the fundamentals of forward power skating biomechanics will be discussed
in the following section.
Figure 1
During a simple skating stride, the stride cycle
is essentially biphasic including a Support and
It is likely that the peroneals that are most
strained in the individuals who maintain
Swing phases (Figure 1). The support phase
an inverted rearfoot position during the
can be further broken down into the Glide and
Glide Phase. The compensatory eccentric
Push-off phases involving both periods of single
muscle action required by these muscles
and double support. As we will discuss later, it
to
is during the Glide and Push-off phases that
likely to be associated with the delayed
the foot and ankle are critical to maximizing
muscle
optimal alignment and propulsive power.
by
maintain
soreness
skaters
varus,
balance
with
tibial
that
onathin
is
blade
often
is
reported
uncompensated rearfoot
varum
and
genu
varum.
During the Glide Phase the skate blade
will tend to glide with either both edges in
The same can be suggested for the over
contact with the ice or only the medial edge
pronator whose everted rearfoot position
(Figure 2). If the rearfoot is in an excessively
through the Support Phase would likely
everted or inverted position, the muscles
explain the occurrence of tibialis posterior
acting to maintain stability could potentially
muscle
suffer
the
stress and general medial ankle instability.
peroneal muscle group has been reportedly
In cross section, the metal skate blade (Figure
strained in individuals who exhibit excessive
2A) is designed with 2 edges separated by
inversion. With the excessive pronator, the
a hollow. The depth of this hollow varies
tibialis posterior muscle tends to be at risk.
given the method and degree of sharpening.
overuse
strain.
In
particular,
strain,
medial
ankle
ligamentous
CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS:
the hip and knee.
As the contralateral skate touches
down, the propulsive limb pushes off through a
Biomechanics of
Ice Hockey Skating (con’t)
summation of forces generated through coordinated:
• Hyperextension and abduction of the plastic
• Extension of the knee
blade housing (Figure 2B) that is riveted to the
• Plantar flexion of the ankle
hip
The
metal
skate
blade
is
fastened
in
a
bottom of the skate boot (Figure 2C). There is a
compromise
that
exists
when
considering
edge
sharpness or hollow depth. With a sharper blade
edge, push off is optimized while smooth stops are
compromised. The opposite is true with a lesser hollow.
Figure 3
Researchers have suggested that the optimal skate-ice
interface angle during forward Push-off phase should
Figure 2
Another blade characteristic is the radius of curvature
or, more simply put, the blade rocker. The blade rocker
has reciprocal influences on stability and agility. It has
been reported anecdotally by professional players that a
greater rocker leads to increased agility and decreased
stability. The opposite scenario exists with a lesser rocker.
The amount of rocker selected to optimize both agility
and stability is solely dependent on athlete preference.
Propulsion generally occurs half way through the
single support period of the Support phase with
abduction of the hip and coincidental extension of
be approximately 45° (Figure 3).
Thus, having the
foot in either an excessively pronated or supinated
position at push off could potentially influence this
interface anyle. For example, if the foot is excessively
everted at push off, this angle could be reduced to
a degree <45°.
Conversely,
if rearfoot angle was
excessively inverted, the angle could be possibly >45°.